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Iran confrontation sparks fears of a new military draft
Tory Barringer Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityAs the United States and Iran square off on the world stage, news sites and social media alike are lit up over the possibility of further escalation between the two countries. Perhaps no site experienced as much of a traffic surge as the online home of the Selective Service System (SSS), the executive agency in charge of providing manpower to the U.S. military in the event of a new draft. In the days following the American missile strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, the Selective Service site actually crashed under the deluge of web traffic from young men curious — and maybe fearful — about the possibility of mandatory service.
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During bushfire crisis, Australia’s koala ‘beds are burning’…
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalAs the world watches Australia burn, recall the indignant 1987 song "Beds are Burning" by Sydney band Midnight Oil. The lyrics prove prescient: "Four wheels scare the cockatoos/From Kintore, east to Yuendemu/The Western Desert lives and breathes/In forty-five degrees." The country's devastating wildfires make four scary wheels the least of the cockatoos' problems, and recent numbers indicate Australia's planetarily unique biodiversity and surrounding interdependent human communities are changed forever.
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Select sanctuary counties in Colorado refuse ‘red flag’ gun…
Michelle R. Matisons Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityAs we ring in the new decade, new state laws ring in as well. Colorado offers a case study, with a "red flag" law that was contested and upheld in the state Supreme Court. Not everyone was happy about the court’s decision, and a largely right-wing phenomenon with potential nonpartisan appeal — gun sanctuary counties — was the result. Leave it to Colorado to be immersed in controversial gun reform legislation.
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Teachers are a lot less enthusiastic about innovation than you think
Patrick Gleeson EducationA courageous teacher fights an unwieldy bureaucracy to introduce powerful new learning strategies. Recognize this? It's basically the plot of "Dangerous Minds," the movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer, a plot it shares with a lot of other heartwarming film and television dramas. But also — if you accept the results of an Education Week 2018 poll on teachers and innovation — it’s a storyline you're not that likely to find in real life. Teachers, it turns out, are less enthusiastic about innovation in education than you might think. It's actually their administrators who favor it.
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New drug testing rule targets applicants for unemployment benefits
Grace Ferguson Civil & GovernmentOn Oct. 4, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule giving states more freedom to expand the number of people who must pass drug tests in order to qualify for unemployment benefits. Those who fail the test would be disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance. Note that unemployment benefits are paid for by employer — and, in some states, employee — payroll taxes and are generally granted to employees who lose their job through no fault of their own. Before we explore the new rule, let's take a trip down memory lane.
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A look at marijuana policing trends and why they matter
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecuritySome say that there is a generational war over American cannabis laws going on right now. While many states have legalized marijuana and cannabis-based businesses are flourishing, there are instances of illegal pot causing havoc around the country. In recent news from California, the city of Rancho Cordova and Sacramento County underwent a massive crackdown on illegal marijuana operations that hurt legal cannabis businesses. The pot police, as these investigators are colloquially termed, have seized over 3,100 marijuana plants in Rancho Cordova alone.
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As 2020 begins, news from the Arctic offers scant environmental hope
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe late 2019 Madrid U.N. Climate Summit didn’t offer much in the way of good news regarding international consensus on climate goals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has also produced its annual report on the Arctic that does not bode well for the future, as a major climate date, the year 2020, is now here. There's perhaps no better litmus test for climate health than Arctic ice, which is melting at a pace that concerns more than just scientists and climate change activists.
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9 practical tips for workplace investigations
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementMany circumstances arise where human resources professionals are required to conduct investigations. These circumstances may include instances of alleged workplace violence or bullying, harassment or discrimination, suspected drug or alcohol abuse, unsafe conditions, or safety violations and the like. This article offers some basic "common denominator" tips for investigating most of these situations. Keep in mind, however, that every situation is different, and a tailored approach is required for the best outcome for the company and to minimize legal liability.
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The new trend in hiring? Collaborative interviews
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAlmost gone, thankfully, are the days of brutal panel interviews with trick questions and ridiculous, no-win scenarios. Instead, questions like: "What animal would you be and why?" are being replaced with thoughtful inquiry, genuine interest and bilateral communication. Welcome to the world of the collaborative interview.
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Medical professionals weigh in on minors’ right to consent to immunizations
Sheilamary Koch Medical & Allied HealthcareAs outbreaks of preventable diseases, namely measles, have become relatively commonplace in recent years, some physicians are supporting laws that would give adolescents the right to choose to be vaccinated over parental objections before the age of 18. The issue of conflicting viewpoints on vaccines between parents and teens hit the national media in March when Ohio high school senior Ethan Lindenberger shared his experience of trying to get vaccinated despite his mother’s objections in his testimony before a Senate committee.
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